Lee Thompson Young, an actor known for his starring role on “The Famous Jett Jackson,” was found dead on Monday after an apparent suicide. He was 29 years old. Young’s body was found in his Los Angeles apartment after he failed to show up for work on his current series TNT’s “Rizzoli & Isles.” Young played the computer savvy Barry Frost on the TNT police drama starring Angie Harmon, who played his partner. Young was born in Columbia, S.C. in 1984, and scored his major Disney role in 1998. He would later earn a degree from the University of Southern California. A versatile actor, his acting credits include “Friday Night Lights” and “Akeelah and the Bee.” Paul Baruch, the actor’s manager, told the Associated Press: “Lee was more than just a brilliant young actor, he was a wonderful and gentle soul who will be truly missed. We ask that you please respect the privacy of his family and friends as this very difficult time.” Read More »

Tess Gerritsen is the author of the Rizzoli & Isles books, and the second season of the television series based on her work begins tonight. Gerritsen, who practiced internal medicine as a physician for five years, now spends her time penning suspense novels that deal with medicine and forensic science.

Gerritsen returned to her first love–writing-while on maternity leave. She started with romance suspense novels, because she used to read romances during her medical residency. “I found that after a hard day working in life and death situations, that a romance novel was the perfect way to unwind,” she said. Then Gerritsen got the idea for a book about the black market in organs and organ theft, and tried a medical thriller, “Harvest,” which became a bestseller. “That was the first book that got me a really big audience, and I realized maybe I should be writing more thrillers. So, I’ve been doing it ever since.”

Gerritsen’s latest book, “The Silent Girl,” draws upon her own Asian-American heritage and brings Jane Rizzoli into Boston’s Chinatown to work alongside Chinese-American Detective Johnny Tam. On the eve of the international book tour for “The Silent Girl,” Gerritsen took a moment to sit down with Speakeasy.

For Tess Gerritsen’s latest novel in the Rizzoli & Isles series, “The Silent Girl,” the author went back to her Asian roots.

“My mother’s an immigrant from [the Chinese city of] Kunming,” Gerritsen told Speakeasy in New York, on the eve of her international book tour. “When I was growing up, she told me all these amazing tales about China, about seeing ghosts, about the fact that she feels spirits are all around us, especially spirits of the ancestors.” Read More »

“Rizzoli & Isles,” which premieres tonight and stars Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander, isn’t just another testament to TNT’s “We Know Drama” slogan. It’s also another brick in a dynasty the cable network has been quietly building over the past few years: dramas headed by strong, complex female characters. There’s Jada Pinkett Smith’s “Hawthorne,” the (now-cancelled) Holly Hunter vehicle “Saving Grace” and the show that started it all: “The Closer,” starring Kyra Sedgwick.

Michael Wright, head of programming for Turner Networks, remembers the meeting in which “The Closer” was born: execs were looking to develop an original show to follow reruns of “Law and Order,” which drew big numbers for the network. Everyone agreed that a crime show, thematically, would make a good companion. “ Then somebody in the room said, ‘We should make it about a woman,’” says Wright. “It was just a simple, good idea — one of those things where everybody looked at each other and said, ‘How come no one’s thought of that before?’” Read More »

At the upfront presentation for TNT and TBS’s new programming slate this morning, the Turner Entertainment Network paraded out the stars of each new and returning series. While most stuck to their pre-scripted banter, Angie Harmon, on hand to introduce her new drama series “Rizzoli & Isles,” broke from the pack to tease the audience about their lack of enthusiasm for the “Leverage” segment, which featured actress Beth Riesgraf dropping from the ceiling in a harness.

“I had to give props to my sister actor,” said Harmon, when we caught up with her at the Turner lunch following the announcement. “I was shocked when she flew down, and wanted to ask the audience, ‘are you in a coma?’” Read More »

Two weeks ago, actress and singer Patti LuPone grabbed a cell phone out of the hand of an audience member who was texting during a performance of her current play, "Shows for Days." The bold move led to an outpouring of support from fans fed up with glowing screens. Ms. LuPone gives us her five rules of theater etiquette.